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Have you visited us in Kugluktuk, or just visited our community, and made some friends? Would you like to share some blog thoughts about Kugluktuk's goals and dreams? Contact us and we'll set you up here on our blog page.

The more the merrier so there's no pressure on you to blog all the time ... even though Kugluktukmiut and others would love to read what you have to say!

A huge thanks to Ariel Tweto for keeping in touch, and for wanting to blog. Thanks for touching our hearts in Kugluktuk. All your friends and fans you met in the Kitikmeot communities say: Koana!

Ariel's Bog April 8, 2014

by Guest Blog on 2014-04-08

Hey there Kugluktuk! How are you all doing? I hope you are doing well and enjoying the frolics. Lucky! I wish I got to stay! I had an absolute blast and may have shed a tear when I left. Shhhhhhhhh....don't tell anyone though okay :) This is my first posting to my blog on the Healthy Kugluktuk website, which I am very excited to be a part of now. Ill try to keep posting regularly so keep your eye out :)

I have been keeping very busy…working on developing a cartoon and another reality show, doing some work in Alaska, college classes and yadayadayada…things have been pretty crazy. So glad that some of you are keeping in touch with me on FaceBook! I love getting your messages and wall posts. Keep them coming! They make my day. If anyone else would like to talk, please add me as your friend! Or message me so I can add you. And I will do my absolute best to respond to everyone.

I really miss all of you..Kugluktuk was so incredible as the first stop of the Popping Bubbles Tour…it's going to be pretty hard to beat. I have a few other communities booked in May, looking forward to them. Popping Bubbles is moving along quite nicely…we have had a great response so far and we are looking at having some major sponsors assist us with future trips…I will be back in Kugluktuk one day! Hopefully this summer to go fishing! (Nigel, Braydon, and Evan you all promised!) Since visiting Kugluktuk I have determined that there a lot of bubbles that people need to talk and pop in order to meet there personal goals…I hope you are all setting goals for yourselves! I am. One of mine today was to write this post, so I can check that off my to do list. I love making lists!

Let me back track for a minute though. You are all probably wondering how I came up with the name Popping Bubbles…No, I'm not out there with cases of champagne or anything like that...I'll leave that to Jay Z and Kanye :) I was doing an interview while discussing suicide prevention and I said something along the lines of, "We all live in little bubbles (never leaving the village, hanging out with only certain people, not trying a new food, not being open to different ethnicities, religions, ways of life, etc.)...so I want to go around and pop them!" I want people to pop their little bubble that they are stuck in. I think that is a big reason why suicide happens. We are lonely or sad or confused and feel like we lack a purpose...so with popping bubbles I hope to help us all step outside of our comfort zone and dream big and set goals and reach those goals. To find our purpose! Popping Bubbles hopes to obtain a connection between people in remote communities around the World to assist in bringing communities closer together and break down the social bubbles that restrict people from accomplishing their personal goals that will lead to successful and healthy life.

Have any of you identified any bubbles yet…or even better popped any bubbles? Tell me! I want to hear your story! Together we will break down the barriers. It is alright to talk to others who support you, be confident. Listen to what people say and learn from your mistakes. This will lead to a healthy life.

In future tour stops I will be talking more about Suicide Prevention. Suicide has affected me personally and I know how I feel about it…I want to open the discussion with everyone so that they all feel comfortable discussing it…we cannot be afraid or ashamed to talk about suicide. Together we will break down the stigma about suicide. Yes it will be difficult but it is needed so that we all can learn and grow stronger and healthier.

Next time I will go into a bit more detail about my goal with Popping Bubbles and discuss suicide prevention in a little more detail. I ask you all to read, and talk about my blog postings…Popping the bubble will help to educate, save lives and create a healthy life worth living…I want you all to be successful. You all have so much talent and there is so much opportunity in Kugluktuk and where ever else you may be. Lets go to the moon!!!!

Learning from Each Other & Making New Friends:

Ariel's Popping Bubbles 'Kitikmeot Tour' begins in Kugluktuk (the backdrop for the Blog)

The connection between the Iñupiaq of Western Alaska and Copper Inuit of Kugluktuk goes back several generations . This spring, the connection comes alive. Ariel Tweto is coming to Kugluktuk to inspire people to dream big, and to value the importance of setting goals.

Ariel's visit does come with a message about bullying and suicide prevention. The message is fresh, passionate and down-to-earth, like Ariel; her natural zest for 'giving back' inspires everyone with a new way of looking at ourselves and the world around us ... to find a purpose, to develop a good work-ethic, and to go beyond the confines of living in a self-made bubble.

Ariel's roots are Alaskan Iñupiaq (Inuit); she was born and raised in Unalakleet Alaska. Her Grandmother and some of Ariel's relatives went to residential school. Ariel has experienced first-hand the trials and tribulations of northern living as a woman from a remote, fly-in community. But, Ariel rises above the clouds and truly does fly wild.

Ariel and her family were featured on Discovery Channel’s Flying Wild Alaska for 3 seasons. Ariel is an accomplished athlete in traditional Inuit games and she perfected the “seal hop” on the TV show Wipeout . Ariel has also appeared on David Letterman’s Late Show and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. With several projects on the go, Ariel is currently a host on the FNX/Sundance Institute’s show Native Shorts .

“I'm super excited and flattered to be invited to Kugluktuk” says Ariel. “I can't wait to meet everyone and share my thoughts and stories. I have been very lucky so far in life and I think it has a lot to do with my outlook, the people I surround myself with, my upbringing, family, and my goal setting. I want to share my experiences with others and hopefully inspire people to step outside of their comfort zone and to dream big. I ask myself almost every day 'what is my reason for waking up today?' And most days I have an answer; if I don't have one, I go and find it! I want to help people find a reason to wake up.”

In our work with former residential school students and their families, the Society for Building a Healthier Kugluktuk welcomed the Kugluktuk Radio Society’s help to make this opportunity possible … and, to share something life changing with some amazing people in loving memory of a young radio volunteer, the late Sonia Akana .

Healthy Kugluktuk extends its deepest gratitude to David and Cora DeVos, formerly of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut and now Saskatchewan. Koana Dave and Cora, all of this is possible because of your love and passion for life!

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